title: Saliva flow and composition in humans exposed to acute altitude hypoxia.
abstract: The effects of acute hypoxia (2 days at 4350 m) on whole saliva flow and composition were studied on 12 sea-level natives, at rest and following a maximal exercise. Exercise, performed in normoxia and hypoxia, did not induce variations in saliva flow rate, saliva potassium or alpha-amylase concentrations. In contrast, acute hypoxia did lead to an increase in mean saliva flow rate both at rest (0.63 ml.min-1 to 0.93 ml.min-1, P less than 0.01) and after exercise (0.56 ml.min-1 to 1.06 ml.min-1, P less than 0.05) and a decrease in mean saliva potassium concentration at rest (20.8 mmol.l-1 to 14.7 mmol.l-1, P less than 0.01) as well as after exercise (21.7 mmol.l-1 to 16.5 mmol.l-1, P less than 0.05). This effect might be the consequence of a hypoxia-induced stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Association pour la Recherche en Physiologie de l'Environement, Unité INSERM U 138, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pilardeau
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Richalet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouissou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaysse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larmignat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases; D011188:Potassium; D009638:Norepinephrine